1984 Delhi Sikh Genocide - Statements

Statement submitted before the Nanavati Commission

Witness No. 135

Name : Ram Bilas Paswan

Age :

Occupation : Union Minister for Coal & Mines

Address : 12, Janpath, New Delhi.

On SA

I have filed an affidavit before Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission of Inquiry. It is shown to me, it is the same. On November 01, 1984 I had come to know about some of the incidents which had happened in the city as a result of assassination of Mrs Indira Gandhi. I had, therefore, gone along with 2 or 3 other leaders to various localities to assess the whole situation.

As we had found that the situation in the city was deteriorating very fast, we had gone to The President of India at about 1.30 pm to request him to take some prompt steps. He had shown his helplessness in ordering immediate steps and told us to see the Home Minister Narasimha Rao. We had twice made an attempt to contact Rao from the Rashtrapati Bhawan. On both the occasions we were told that he was in a meeting. We carried an impression that he was avoiding to come on the line. We, therefore, again requested the President to talk to Home Minister. He told us that he would talk to him.

In addition to what I have stated in paragraphs 5 & 6 of my affidavit, I say that while the crowd was quite near my house, police vehicles were also moving on the road but they had not stopped. I had not seen this personally but I was told about the same. The crowd which had collected in front of my house had entered my bungalow through the neighbouring bungalow after climbing over the wall. They had set ablaze the car of Mr Karpuri Thakur which belonged to Bihar Bhawan which was at that time in my compound.

Cross examination by S.S. Gandhi, Senior Advocate on behalf of Delhi Police

It is true that the whole incident which had taken place near my bungalow was witnessed by my Bodyguard Joginder Prasad Singh and also by my Secretary Mohinder Beta. My Guard had prevented the crowd from entering my house for quite a while but as the crowd was very big they could not prevent them from entering my house.

All this had gone on for 45 minutes to 1 hour. The mob had first broken through the first gate thereafter they had broken the second gate and then they had entered my house. I had left my house when the mob had burnt garage and already entered my house after breaking open the door.

I had not read the report filed by Mohinder Baitha but I had come to know after I returned from Charan Singh's house that Mohinder Baitha had given the complaint regarding what had happened in my house. All the incidents which had taken place in my bungalow were witnessed by Joginder Prasad Singh, Mohinder Baitha and Dr. P.S. Verma. As I was inside my house I do not know what was the strength of the mob outside my house.

No cross examination by Ashok Kashyap, Advocate on behalf of Central Government

No cross examination by H.S. Phoolka, Senior Advocate on behalf of Nov.'84 Carnage Justice Committee.

Read over and found correct.

(Ram Bilas Paswan) (G.T. Nanavati)

7th January, 2002

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